Amid EPS-OPS tussle, AIADMK may delay announcement of CM candidate

With the rift in the AIADMK widening due to EPS and OPS being at loggerheads, the announcement of the party’s chief ministerial candidate for Assembly polls to be held next year is likely to be delayed.

 The party had earlier declared that the chief ministerial candidate for the next year’s Assembly elections would be announced on 7 October. Sources said that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is likely to seek deferment of the announcement in a bid to placate and convince the rival camp being headed by Deputy CM O Panneerselvam. 

Meanwhile, breaking his silence after a long time, Panneerselvam on Monday posted a cryptic tweet before leaving for Chennai from his hometown in the Theni district, where he was scheduled to meet his supporters at his residence.

 In his tweet, OPS stated that “So far, all my decisions were taken keeping the welfare of the people and AIADMK cadres in mind and will continue to do so in the coming days also.” Quoting verses from Bhagavad Gita, he said, “Whatever happened, it happened for good. Whatever happens, is also happening for good. Whatever will happen, that too will happen for good.” Following this, at the secretariat, Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami called all the important ministers to his room and held a meeting for more than an hour. The meeting was attended by Ministers KA Sengottaiyan, Dindigul Srinivasan, CV Shanmugam, P Thangamani, SP Velumani and some others.

 Important party functionaries and deputy Convener Munusamy and Vaithiyalingam met EPS ahead of the CM Candidate announcement.

 Since the AIADMK Deputy Co-Convener Munuswamy announced that AIADMK’s party convener will make an official statement on the CM Candidate, both the leaders are huddling into marathon meetings with their supporters. 

OPS skipped two important government programs headed by the chief minister, which included the Covid-19 review meeting with the district collectors. 

He instead had meetings with his supporters for three days before participating in the Mahatma Gandhi birth anniversary celebrations in Chennai along with the Chief Minister and left for Theni. There he met his supporters and held discussions with supporters.

 Meanwhile, the infighting within the AIADMK looks to be far from over. EPS seems to have consolidated his position very strongly and most of the party men are behind him. OPS’ demands including formation of an 11-member committee have not been fulfilled by EPS. This may lead to OPS continuing to be at loggerheads with the CM. Political observers feel that the announcement of the AIADMK CM Candidate could get delayed.